European Actions in favour of e-accessibility

1. Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” Paris - 30 Jan 2006 European Actions in favour of e-accessibility Unit “e-Inclusion” (François JUNIQUE) Per BLIXT  Paul TIMMERS , Ima PLACENCIA Directorate “ICT for Citizens and Businesses” Frans de BRUÏNE europa.eu.int/information_society/policy/accessibility/

2. Inclusion & Digital DivideEU / EC policy developments Elderly People & Persons with Disability Low education,Unemployment, etc Remote areas Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

3. i2010/Inclusion – eInclusion“2008 EC initiative” preparation Exclusion factors • eAccessibility • ICT & Aging (AAL) • Digital Literacy • Geographical digital divide • … Individual & Collective Benefits Intervening Actors awareness, access (incl. affordability), accessibility & usability, skills, contents & services, trust & security, contextual factors & “enabling environments” (social capital, communities, family, workplace) • 2006: • RIGA Ministerial conference • EC work on Independent Living • 2007: • EC work on eInclusion Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

4. i2010/Inclusion :2005Need for EC intervention on eAccessibility • Deployment of existing policies is uneven & slow in EuropeTechnical requirements & standards being developed nationally • Despite own effortsIndustry lacks incentive to mainstream eAccessibility (not enough timely/anticipating solutions) • Accessible ICT goods and services not competitive enough  increasing risk of digital divide • Need for • promoting a consistent approach to EU eAccessibility initiatives in the Member states, on a voluntary basis, • fostering industry self regulation to better meet market needs • Policy objective: Increase the availability of quality Accessible ICT products and services in Europe Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

5. i2010/Inclusion : Sept 2005 EC Communication on eAccessibility Legal measures (better use) Accessible ICT Products & Services Web accessibility Certification(explore) - Member States Benchmark & monitor - Industry Public procurement - Users REVIEW IN 2 YEARS TIME Accessibility requirements & standards Design for all Research Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

6. i2010/Inclusion – eAcc. 2005 EC COM“eAccessibility potential of existing EU legislation” Various cases with existing articles in EU directives • Asking MS to take initiatives • Permitting MS to take initiatives • Allowing EC actions Various opportunities (national transpositions, revisions) Examples • Electronic Communication Framework Directives (ECFD)& Universal Service Directive (USD)  • Terminal Directives (RTTE)  • Employment Equality Directive (reasonable accommodation) • Public Procurement Directives Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

7. i2010/Inclusion – eAcc. 2005 EC COMICT Public procurement: Requirements Int. WS 2004 • Different approaches internationally (converging?), but general consensus that using public procurement to promote accessibility of ICT is a good thing • Strong need for internationally harmonised standards / requirements (suitable for use in procurement) • Such standards / requirements to be “objective” (and seen to be so), and endorsed by all the relevant stakeholders • Confusion (partly semantic) about the term “voluntary”; different meanings in different contexts (standards, self regulation, self certification….); industry generally favours voluntary approaches • The user view is that requirements must be mandatory, based on objectively defined standards / requirements, and be independently verifiable • Real need for supports for procurers, e.g. toolkits • All stakeholders appreciate the benefits of working together and are committed to continuing this. Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

8. i2010/Inclusion – eAcc. 2005 EC COMPublic procurement EU Directives : the ‘hooks’ • The preambles : “Contracting authorities should, whenever possible, lay down technical specifications so as to take into account accessibility criteria for people with disabilities or design for all users.” • The specific Articles on technical specifications : “Whenever possible […] should be defined so as to take into account accessibility criteria for people with disabilities or DfA.” • Award phase… the criteria on which the contracting authorities shall base the award of public contracts shall either: (a) when the awards is made to the tender most economically advantageous from the point of view of the contracting authority, various criteria linked to the subject matter of the public contract in question, for example quality, price, technical merit, aesthetic and functional characteristics, environmental characteristics,…. (b) the lowest price Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

9. i2010/Inclusion – eAcc. 2005 EC COMICT Public procurement : EC Mandate to the ESOs • Phase I: Inventory • Technology products (ICT) • Existing accessibility requirements & Gaps • Existing standards to comply with accessibility requirements • Assessment: requirements as technical specifications/ award criteria • Report on testing and conformity assessment schemes • Phase II: Standardisation • European standard (EN) Accessibility requirements for ICT domain, to be used as technical specifications • Technical report (TR) listing existing technical standards • Guidelines on award criteria • Guidance and support material • On line freely accessible toolkit Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

10. i2010/Inclusion – eAcc. 2005 EC COMConformance & Certification • Various ways to demonstrate conformance to eAccessibility requirements for a product or service: e.g. self-declaration, third party certification or process management, … • Various contexts: public procurements, (some) Member States legislation, industry products marketing, [testing with users?] … • Various bases: requirements standards/guidelines, quality criteria, assessment, reference material,… (conditional or qualitative comparison awards) • Various clients: end users, industry, public authorities, … • Various conditions: mandatory/voluntary, label or not, …  Workshop in Brussels - 27 March 2006 + international cooperation Users trust, Industry effort recognition, reliable method/process Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

11. i2010/Inclusion – eAcc. 2005 EC COM Measuring progress of eAccessibility in Europe Study (just launched) • Review of the existing methodologies & indicators. • Survey of existing actions which have improved eAccessibility • Methodologyto monitor and identify • Methodology to measure • rate of eAccessibility in the Member States, experienced by people with disabilities and older people. • rate of eAccessibility, experienced by other stakeholders. • Firstmeasurement and analysis of the data. (12m) • Secondmeasurement and analysis of the data. (24 m) • Final report including conclusions and policy recommendations • 2 supporting workshops Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

12. EC supported ResearcheAccessibility & eInclusion history 19911993 TIDE - Pilot + Bridge Phase 21 + 55 projects 14 + 38 M€ FP4 - TAP :Disability and Elderly 53 projects 50 M€ 1996 1998 FP5 - IST : Special Needs 40 projects 60 M€ FP6 - IST eInclusion + Policy Support30 projects 70 M€ + IST AAL for the Ageing Society … (new Call) 2002 FP7 (ERA, Lisbon) 7years - budget? eInclusion… “Cooperation, Ideas, People, Capacities” Instruments: continuity + technology platforms & joint initiatives (EU Article 171) Research Council, EC agencies? 2007 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

13. EC supported ResearchFP6 2002-2006 – Priorities/ERA/instruments • Main Instruments • Integrated Projects  • Networks of Excellence • Specific Targeted Research Projects • Specific Support Actions • Coordination Actions • + Art. 169 e-Inclusion Strategic Objective Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

14. EC supported ResearchSome ideas for eInclusion in FP7 • Understanding the Challenge: role of technology in addressing individuals/ communities' needs • Use of ICTto provide content for improving social capital & citizenship and to increase eSkills • Ensuring equal access and participation: removal and prevention of technological barriers: DfA & (new AT) • Services & tools to foster the inclusion process: supporting professionals, family and mediators • Horizontal issues: Identification of good ICT policies, benchmark indicators, cooperation (MS & international) + Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) ‘Article 169’ Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)

15. “European Actions in favour of e-accessibility” i2010 & R&D FP - EC Calendar Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique)